What does angelica mean?
Angelica is a noun referring to a tall, aromatic plant of the parsley family, most notably Angelica archangelica, which grows wild in northern Europe and has been cultivated for centuries for culinary and medicinal use. Every part of the plant carries a musky, sweetly resinous scent: the hollow stems are candied into the familiar bright-green decoration found on cakes and trifles, while the roots and seeds yield an essential oil that flavours gin, vermouth, and liqueurs such as Chartreuse. The name reflects a long association with the divine — medieval Europeans believed the herb protected against poison and plague, dubbing it 'the root of the Holy Ghost', and legend held it bloomed first on the feast day of the Archangel Michael. Today the word appears most often in cookery writing and gardening contexts, evoking old-fashioned confectionery and traditional herbalism alike.
nounA genus of aromatic plants of the parsley family, especially Angelica archangelica, whose stems and roots are used in flavouring and confectionery; also, candied angelica stem used as a cake decoration.
- The plant Angelica archangelica (or related species), a tall aromatic biennial of the parsley family native to northern Europe, cultivated for its sweet stems, roots, and seeds.
- Candied or crystallised strips of angelica stem, traditionally bright green, used to decorate cakes, trifles, and other desserts.
- Angelica as a flavouring agent — its root and seed oils are used in gin, liqueurs such as Chartreuse, and herbal remedies.
"She garnished the trifle with strips of candied angelica."
"The gardener let the angelica grow tall at the back of the border, its umbrella-shaped flower heads buzzing with bees."
"Traditional Christmas cake recipes call for chopped candied angelica alongside glacé cherries."
The plural is rare in everyday use but appears in gardening and botanical contexts when referring to multiple plants.
"Several angelicas self-seeded along the damp edge of the garden."
Medieval herbalists called it 'the root of the Holy Ghost' because it was believed to ward off poison and plague — and it's still what gives gin and Chartreuse part of their distinctive flavour.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of angelica
The word 'angelica' derives from Latin angelicus, meaning 'angelic' or 'of the angels', ultimately from Greek angelos, 'messenger'. The name was applied to the plant in the Middle Ages because of its reputation as a heavenly gift with protective powers against poison and plague, and it entered English usage around the early sixteenth century. It shares this Greek root with words such as 'angelic' and 'archangel'.
How angelica is actually used
In modern British cooking, 'angelica' often refers specifically to the candied green decoration rather than the fresh plant. The fresh herb is more familiar in Scandinavian countries, where the stems are eaten candied and the plant has long been valued medicinally.
Easily confused with angelica
'Angelic' is an adjective describing something like or relating to angels, while 'angelica' is a noun naming an aromatic herb and the candied confection made from it.